NBC Slots 'Biggest Loser' for Fall

New NBC boss Ben Silverman will kick off the network's 2007-08 season a little bit early -- with one of the shows that carries his name as a producer.

The network says it will begin the fourth season of its weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser" on Tuesday, Sept. 11, a few days before the Nielsen-approved official start of the season. NBC is also planning a "Where Are They Now?" special featuring past contestants and how they've done since their time on the show; it's scheduled for Sept. 4.

NBC had initially planned a late-summer premiere for "The Biggest Loser" this year. When the network announced its fall lineup last month, however, it was slotted in at 8 p.m. Tuesdays, hinting that it would likely be held until September.

"This is an innovative way to re-introduce an audience favorite and answer the question everyone asks: 'Did they keep the weight off?'" says Silverman, who's an exec producer of the show through his old job as head of production company Reveille.

The show will have its two-hour premiere on the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which if nothing else at least seems incongruous. NBC hasn't said yet (nor has any other network, for that matter) how it plans to mark the anniversary.

"Days of Our Lives" actress Alison Sweeney is taking over from Caroline Rhea as host of "The Biggest Loser." Contestants this time around will shed pounds at a spartan new location under the watch of trainers Bob Harper and Kim Lyons. Former trainer Jillian Michaels will be back as well, though NBC is keeping her exact role a secret.

Contestants this season include a set of twins and the show's oldest player ever, at 62.

The "Where Are They Now?" special on Sept. 4 will check in with a number of the "losers" from three prior seasons to see if they've been able to keep off the weight they lost while on the show.